FIFA World Cup 2026 preparations in full swing but Trump’s travel ban may kill the excitement as the banned countries that have qualified may face hurdles; here’s what you need to know

Preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are in full swing, but U.S. President Donald Trump’s travel ban may break the hearts of millions of football fans eagerly awaiting the tournament. The 2026 edition will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Trump administration announced the latest ban on June 4, 2025, targeting 19 countries. The ban forbids citizens of more than a dozen countries from entering the US.

This move can probably ruin the excitement linked to the coveted football tournament, as fans from the countries that are on the list and have qualified for the tournament will not be able to cheer for the fans from inside the stadium. There are also chances that the majority of matches will be played in the United States; this could turn out to be a problem for people from countries on the list.

Which countries are on Trump's travel ban list?

At the time of announcing the travel ban, the US president announced that he would introduce 'common sense restrictions' on travel to the US that would 'protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors,' according to the online platform Lad Bible. The travel ban impacts people from the following countries:

• Afghanistan
• Myanmar
• Chad
• Congo-Brazzaville
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

It is also pertinent to mention that partial travel restrictions were also imposed on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

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What will happen to countries that qualified for the 2026 World Cup?

Two out of 19 countries on the travel ban list have qualified for the 2026 World Cup: Iran and Haiti. For Iran, it was the seventh time ever that the Middle Eastern nation has earned itself a spot in the tournament after topping their group with 23 points. Meanwhile, the other team that qualified was Haiti, which is also subject to Trump's travel ban, and they also sealed their second World Cup qualification after a 51-year drought.

Are players of the banned countries allowed in the US?

The players of the two banned nations will be fighting it out on the pitch, as they are set to be granted an entry, though due to an exemption.

What does the exemption say?

The exemptions underscore that 'any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State' are allowed in—but this doesn't apply to fans.